Chapter 10 "Don't"

"Kagami! What now?!" Junpei Hyuga, the captain, yelled at him.

"What? Ah, sorry."

"Listen to your seniors once in a while or I'll kill you." Junpei angrily walked away. They were in Seirin's gym, practicing.

"He wouldn't really kill you." Teppei smiled apologetically.

"Maybe he just should." Kagami muttered but he was sure that Teppei heard him.

"Why are you wooly-headed now Kagami?" Izuki came near him, "Even there is no Tetsuya Kuroko watching you in the seats."

"'M not woolly-headed."

"You're kinda woolly-headed." Teppei agreed, still was smiling apologetically.

"I'm not woolly-headed!"

"Were you woolly-headed when I was watching you?" Kuroko asked, deadpan.

"Stop saying 'woolly-headed'! I'm fine!"

"Kagami-kun?"

"I said I'm fine. So shut it already." he snapped.

He immediately turned to Tetsuya once he realized what he said to him, he thought he saw his hurt face for a second but then Tetsuya got back to his expressionless face;

"Okay."

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After the practice, everyone went to home. Tetsuya and Taiga were the last ones in the locker room.

"Tetsuya."

"Yes, Kagami-kun?"

'O-oh. What're you doing?'

Taiga couldn't lie to him;

"I-.. I talked to Aomine."

Tetsuya looked surprised, his eyes'd went wide. Kagami continued to talk;

"Look, I know what happened between you and him. ..And I know about 'Tetsu'."

Now Tetsuya was blushed and looking like edge of crying. He was trying not to meet Kagami's eyes. He didn't say for a long time, then;

"It is embarrassing, isn't it.. Kagami-kun? You probably think I'm disgusting.. for being with a guy."

Kagami'd never thought the way he was feeling right now was even possible. It was so bad like he couldn't breathe, his chest was tightening. Kuroko was holding his tears just barely.

"I don't think it is, no." Kagami almost whispered, "I only told you this cause I didn't wanna lie to your face."

"So why do I feel so ashamed?!" he sobbed, "Kagami-kun.. I-" couldn't hold his tears any longer.

Kagami unconsciously reached for him and pulled him to himself.

"I won't tell anyone about it. It's okay. I just.. don't wanna see him near you, understand?" Kagami was hugging him tightly and he knew Kuroko was surprised by the act.

Tetsuya nodded in Taiga's arms. They stayed like that for a while.

"You loved him, didn't you?" asked Kagami. Kuroko waited for a second before answering;

"Ye- es."

"Do you.. still?"

'You're torturing yourself.'

'Maybe I'm a masochist.'

Tetsuya moved back just a little;

"I do not know."

Kagami felt really angry in the instant but he didn't know why.

"Tetsuya." he called seriously.

Tetsuya looked at him with his wet blue eyes. Kagami continued softer;

"I hated that answer. I don't wanna consider a possibility of you loving him. You said he isn't the same person."

Tetsuya looked at him apologetically, that was his answer.

They were still inches away from each other. They weren't hugging anymore so Kagami'd put his hand on the locker and Kuroko was between them. Tetsuya'd finally calmed down and wiped off his tears. Kagami felt ligher but all of a sudden Kuroko got up to his tiptoes and held back of Taiga's shirt to stay in balance, got closer to Taiga. Taiga froze.

"Is that why you were woolly-headed, Kagami-kun?" Tetsuya smiled slightly.

"Oh he jokes~" Kagami smiled back, also slightly.

"I was quite serious, actually."

They stared at each other before Kagami answered;

"Yeah, then, yes. That was the reason."

"Tell me more." Tetsuya said.

"What? What do you wanna know?"

Tetsuya smiled slightly again.

"Now- Now you're joking." Kagami said and smiled wider, "Okay, we're going."

"W-Where, Kagami-kun?"

"I'll walk you home."

"You do not have to.."

"I wanna. I won't let you go alone, now c'mon."

They got out of the gym then started walking towards Tetsuya's house.

"Last night.. Aomine was in front of your house. That's when we talked."

Tetsuya's face was back to its normal expressionless state so he didn't give away any of his feelings but Kagami knew now, how he was feeling about Aomine.

"I actually guessed that, Kagami-kun."

"Oh."

"Is that why you are taking me home?"

"One of the reasons." Kagami answered. Tetsuya nodded.

When they reached Tetsuya's house, Kagami was the first one who saw Aomine in front of the building.

"Tetsu. And you."

"I told you to remember my name."

"I remember it clearly, Taiga Kagami. What're ya doin'? Tryin' to interfere me talkin' to Tetsu?"

"Actually, yeah. That's my intention. I told him everything by the way. So no secrets, no lies."

"I see.. Well, ain't matter what ya think unless Tetsu agrees with ya.. Tetsu? A word with ya?"

Kuroko looked between Aomine and Kagami.

"Don't." Taiga said.

"I am sorry, Kagami-kun." Tetsuya replied, he was a little teary again.

After that, Kagami could only watch Tetsuya letting Aomine in his house. He felt a chill passed through his body and left a weight in his chest. He stood in front of Tetsuya's house for 10 minutes, motionless. Then put his hands in his pockets and started walking towards his own house.

To Be Continued~